PHL, US to hold over 500 joint military drills in 2026 amid rising sea tensions

THE PHILIPPINES and the US will stage more than 500 joint military engagements in 2026, ranging from large-scale combat drills to naval patrols and subject-matter exchanges, in what both sides describe as their most extensive defense cooperation plan to date.

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The activities were finalized during the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board meeting in Hawaii, co-headed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. and US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel John Paparo, Jr. Both signed the so-called “8-star memo,” a document outlining next year’s engagements.

“Both leaders renewed their commitment to deepened cooperation and interoperability to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and achieve peace through strength,” the US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement on Tuesday. “These collaborations foster sustained interaction between both militaries and enhance operational readiness.”

Among the key activities approved was the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise, which has evolved into Southeast Asia’s biggest combat rehearsal. Recent iterations have brought in more troops, advanced missile systems, amphibious landing craft and complex warfighting scenarios designed to simulate modern conflict.